Fire-escape.



FIRE ESCAPE.

:Application filed Septv 18, 1800.,

(No Model.)

WITNESSES //v VEN 70R, Chas. 5202 Z Z '8) 7% A TTORNE Y6.

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ATENT Qrricn.

CHARLES STOLL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,036, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed $eptember 18,1900. Serial No. 30,397. (No model.)

To ail whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES S'roLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in fire-escapes, more especially a portable fire-escape, and is embodied in the novel parts,arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

It is one object of the invention to produce a simplified, strong, and efficient construction for a portable fire-escape adapted to be secured to a suitable object in or about the room of a building-such, for instance, as

1 the wi ndow-frame-and having a reel for paying off a suitable metallic tape, cable, or the like, and having suitable means within ready reach of the party using the escape by which the reel can be controlled and the rapidity of descent governed to suit the party using the apparatus.

A further object is to provide suitable means, preferably in the form of a folding handle, for turning the reel to rewind the tape or cable thereon.

A further object of theinvention is to produce a fire escape of exceedingly simple, cheap, durable, and effective construction.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the invention, but desire it understood that I do not wish the same to be limited in its useful application to the particular construction which for the sake of an understanding of the invention is therein illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fire-escape embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the operatinghandle for the reel.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a reel or spool, to which is attached one end of the metallic tape, cable, or other suitable flexible member B, the tape or cable being wound about the reel and provided at its free end with a hook O or other suitable device capable of being'quickly and easily attached to a window-frame or other suitable part for supporting the apparatus and the person using the same for the purpose of descent.

D indicates a journal or axle fixed to the reel and extending through bearings E in arms F, depending at the sides of the reel from said journal or axle. One end of the journal D projects beyond one of the arms F and has secured thereto a disk G of substantially the size circuinferentially of the reel A. Pivoted tothis disk isahandle g, adapted to be folded down against the disk side or to be turned up at right angles thereto to serve as a crank-handle for operating the disk and reel for the rewinding of the tape or cable thereon.

H indicates a spring adapted to bear at one end against either of two shoulders h on the handle, so as to hold the latter either flat against the disk or standing at right angles thereto. The spring is secured to the disk. Between and secured to the lower ends of the arm Fis a handle J, suitably fashioned to form a comfortable grip for the hand of the person. Secured to one end of the handle J and curved upwardlytoward and secured at each side to the arms F is a fingeror hand guard K,adapted to protect the hand of the user of the escape from coming in contact with the cable or tape or the walls of the building or other objects while the escape is being used. The guard K at its upper end is preferably provided with upwardly-bent flanges 7t, lying beside the spool or reel and secured to the arms F, as by means of screws Between the arms F below the spool is pivoted at Z a brake-shoe L, adapted to contact with the side flanges of the spool or reel. The shoe is also made sufficiently wide at one side to frictionally engage the periphery of the disk G in order to gain additional frictional contact. The brake-shoe L is provided with a trigger or grip M, extending substantially parallel with the handle J and between the same and the finger-guard. The grip is within easy reach of theiingers grasping the handle J. At its end the trigger. M is bifurcated and extends at the side beyond the guard K, the latterforming the guide and brace for the trigger. Secured to a cross piece or bar N at the end of the trigger is one end of a spring 0, the other end of which is secured o a suitable part, such as the finger-guard, the spring exerting a pull on the end of the trigger and causing the brake-shoe to frictionally engage the reel and disk. The spring is preferably adjust-ably secured at one end to the finger-guard or other part, so as to give more or less tension on the trigger. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. In the drawings the end of the spring 0 is adapted to engage in any one of a series of holes P in the fingerguard, and the spring is preferably provided 1 with a loop or finger-hold, whereby it can be grasped and placed in any desired hole.

Q indicates a suitable belt or rope secured at one end to a part of the escape, such as the handle. The rope is adapted to be passed about the body of the person using the escape and secured at its other end detachably to some part of the escape. For this purpose I have shown the belt provided with a hook q, adapted to engage in the opening q in the handle J.

It is believed the use and operation of the device will be manifest from the above description. A person desiring to use the escape passes the belt Q about his body andsecures the end to the opening q. He then attaches the hook C on the cable B to a windowframe or the like, grasps the handle J and the trigger M, and is ready to lower himself, governing the speed of descent by the pressure brought to hear on the trigger M. If preferred, the spring 0 can be adjusted to exert suflicient tension on the brake-shoe, the cable A secured about the body of the user, andthe escape attached in any suitable manner, as by means of a belt, to some suitable part in or about the apartment.

swings himself from the window, the brake being held with sufficient pressure against the reel to insure a slow descent.

The user then i Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. In a fire-escape, the combination of a reel, a flexible member secured thereto, a

said journal, a brake pivoted between said arms and adapted to bear against said reel, 2. handle secured to the lower ends of said arms, and an operating-trigger for said brake ex- 1 allel with said handle and between the same and said reel within reach of the fingers of j the person using the fire-escape, substantially as described. v k 2. In a fire-escape, the combination of a l reel, a flexible member secured thereto, a journal secured thereto, arms depending. from *said journal, a disk secured to said journal, handle on said disk, a handle secured to the lower ends of said arms, a brake pivoted 5 to said arms and adapted to engage both said reel and said disk, and an operating-trigger tor said brake extending adjacent to said handle, substantially as described. 3. In a fire-escape, the combination with a "journal forsaid' reel, arms depending from fsaid journal, a handle secured between the lower ends of said arms and extending laterally therefrom, a finger-guard secured to the Eother end of said handle and also secured to said arms, a brake pivoted between said arms 2 and adapted to engage said reel, a trigger for i said brake extending between said guard and said handle and being guided at its free end by said guard, and a spring secured to said 'jtrigger and to a suitable part of the fireescape, substantially as described.

in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES STOLL.

Witnesses:

E. M. STALEY, l E. GERLAOH.

lreel, a flexible member secured thereto, a

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature journal for said reel, arms depending from tending between said arms substantially par- 

